LOGO

The importance of data centers is growing due to the need to process vast amounts of data resulting from the spread of digital devices, the development of self-driving vehicles, and the development and utilization of generative AI.

While approximately 80% of Japan’s major data center demand is concentrated in Tokyo and Osaka, it has been revealed that Asia Pacific Land (APL) Group, a U.S. real estate investment and development firm, plans to build large-scale data centers in Itoshima and Kitakyushu Cities, Fukuoka Prefecture.

Construction of Kyushu’s Largest Data Center in Itoshima City, with an Investment Exceeding 300 Billion Yen, Scheduled to Begin This Spring

Construction of one of Kyushu’s largest data centers is scheduled to begin in the Taku and Tomi districts of Itoshima City in the spring of 2025. This data center will have a total power receiving capacity of 300,000 kilowatts, and the investment amount will exceed 300 billion yen.

The location is in the southeastern part of the Maebaru Interchange on the Nishi-Kyushu Expressway.

The plan is to construct six data centers on a 122,000 square meter site.

Construction will begin with site preparation in the spring of 2025, and data center operations will gradually commence from 2029.

Construction of a 120,000 Kilowatt Data Center in Kitakyushu City, Aiming to Start by the Fall of 2027

In addition, APL Group acquired a 62,822 square meter city-owned site in the Kitakyushu Science and Research Park (Wakamatsu Ward, Kitakyushu City) in November 2023, and plans to invest 125 billion yen to build a data center with a total power receiving capacity of 120,000 kilowatts. The aim is to start construction by the fall of 2027.

This will be the second large-scale data center to be established in Kitakyushu City since 2007.

APL cited the proximity to submarine cable landing points and the future potential for renewable energy utilization as reasons for selecting Kitakyushu, taking into account its geographical proximity to Asia. They also expect to capture demand from domestic and East Asian companies.

Potential for Increased Attention as a Candidate for Decentralized Data Center Locations

The construction of data centers in Kyushu is aimed at decentralizing data centers as a risk hedge against various disasters, including the Nankai Trough earthquake, and also takes advantage of the proximity to submarine cable landing stations to Asia.

Kitakyushu City has proposed a “Backup Capital Concept” to serve as a hub for companies, data centers, and government agencies concentrated in Tokyo. The construction of a large-scale data center in the Kitakyushu Science and Research Park is likely to give momentum to the city’s concept. There is also the possibility that Kitakyushu, with its low disaster risk, will attract more attention as a candidate for decentralized data center locations, and expectations are high for its development.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced at the Digital Administrative Reform Conference in February the establishment of a public-private council to integrate the development of data centers and power plants, anticipating increased demand due to the spread of artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative aims to decentralize electricity and communication infrastructure, which are currently concentrated in urban areas.

The newly established public-private council will serve as a platform for discussing specific measures, with potential participation from Tokyo Electric Power Company Group, NTT, SoftBank Group, and others.

This concept of integrating data centers and power plants is known as “Watt-Bit Collaboration.” It envisions establishing data centers near power plants, such as nuclear, wind, and solar, to promote industrial clusters.

Focusing on the cost-effectiveness of fiber optic cables compared to power transmission lines, the plan aims to efficiently transmit digital information through optical cables, contributing to the development of a new power transmission and distribution network.

Data centers are currently concentrated in Tokyo and Osaka, with the Kanto and Kansai regions accounting for approximately 90% of the total site area as of 2023, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Decentralizing electricity and communication infrastructure is essential from a national resilience perspective, including disaster response.

While this initiative aims to balance a smooth transition to decarbonization with the revitalization of regional economies, there are concerns regarding electricity challenges.

AI Power Capacity in Domestic Data Centers Expected to Increase Approximately 3.2 Times by 2028

IDC Japan Corporation released its estimated results of the power capacity required for AI servers installed in domestic data centers at the end of February. The total power capacity required by AI servers in domestic data centers is expected to increase from 67 megawatts at the end of 2024 to 212 megawatts by the end of 2028, an approximately 3.2-fold increase in four years. This is equivalent to about 5 to 8 hyper-scale data centers built in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Kansai region.

This power capacity refers to the power required by servers and does not include the power required by network equipment or cooling systems.

IDC Japan explained that the current estimate significantly revises the previous estimate (approximately 80 to 90 megawatts in 2027) made in January 2024. This revision is due to a substantial upward adjustment in the forecast for AI server shipment value in the domestic market.

The background includes the rapid expansion of AI server installations by hyper-scalers, as well as the acceleration of AI server procurement by domestic service providers and research institutions through government subsidy programs.

In particular, the scale of AI infrastructure investment by hyper-scalers is significant, with hyper-scale data centers accounting for the majority of the estimated power capacity.

AI servers are known for their high power consumption and heat generation per unit. Therefore, data centers that install a large number of AI servers require liquid cooling systems instead of conventional air conditioning systems.

Some experts believe that there are still many points to consider regarding the introduction of liquid cooling systems. Finding concrete solutions to these electricity challenges will be key to realizing the integrated AI infrastructure development.

The rush to build data centers continues into 2025 as AI demand surges. Overseas companies are actively entering the Japanese market, with firms from the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore, and more making their way in recent years. We’d like to share the news that two major Vietnamese IT companies will be joining them by the end of 2024.

Vietnam’s Largest IT Company, FPT, to Invest $200 Million in AI Data Center in Japan

Vietnam’s largest IT company, FPT, has announced plans to open an AI data center in Japan in 2025.

In an interview, FPT Chairman Truong Gia Binh stated that the company will invest $200 million (approximately 31 billion yen) in the first phase, along with multiple partner companies. While he did not disclose the partner companies, it has been revealed that SBI Holdings has agreed to invest in FPT.

According to Mr. Binh, the data center in Japan is expected to provide services to sectors such as automotive, manufacturing, retail, and healthcare.

Furthermore, FPT has revealed that it is in discussions with Sumitomo Corporation and NEC regarding AI collaboration, and is also considering potential joint ventures with Japanese telecommunications carriers.

CMC to Invest $500 Million in Data Center Expansion, Up to $100 Million in Japan

CMC, Vietnam’s second-largest IT company, plans to invest $500 million (approximately 75 billion yen) in infrastructure development, including data centers, over the next five years through 2028. The company aims to increase the capacity of its data centers in Vietnam tenfold and plans to spend up to $100 million in Japan.

CMC has data centers in three locations in Vietnam, including the capital city of Hanoi. The company plans to expand its power capacity, which indicates the scale of the data centers, from the current approximately 10 megawatts to a maximum of 100 megawatts by 2028. It also plans to establish smaller-scale data centers in Japan and other countries.

Regarding the development of data centers in Japan, the company is considering whether to own its facilities or use rentals. If it owns the facilities, the investment is expected to be around $100 million, while rentals would cost around $50 million.

Japan’s Data Center Market Driving Demand in the APAC Region

According to a report by research firm Knight Frank, the Tokyo data center market is valued at “2,575MW” and is said to be driving demand in the APAC region, further increasing Japan’s importance. It is expected that more and more foreign companies will enter the Japanese data center market in the future, and we look forward to the activities of domestic data center operators as well.

In December 2024, the press conference between US President Trump and Masayoshi Son, President of telecommunications giant SoftBank Group, became a hot topic. Now, in 2025, SoftBank Group has announced another new project, which I will introduce here.

The Massive $500 Billion Investment “Stargate Project”

On January 22, 2025, SoftBank Group announced the “Stargate Project,” a joint project with OpenAI to build a large-scale AI infrastructure. The project aims to establish leadership in the AI field in the United States and contribute to the global economy.

In the Stargate Project, a huge investment of $500 billion will be made over the next four years, of which $100 billion will be invested immediately. This investment is expected to not only develop data centers and AI infrastructure, but also create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the United States, revitalize American industry, and even strengthen the national security of the United States and its allies.

In addition to SoftBank Group and OpenAI, Oracle and MGX, an artificial intelligence (AI) investment company based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), are named as initial investors in the project. SoftBank Group will be responsible for financial management, OpenAI will be responsible for operations, and Masayoshi Son will serve as chairman. Key technology partners include Arm, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Oracle, and OpenAI, and these companies will work closely together to build and operate the computing system.

The construction of the AI infrastructure has already begun in Texas, and contracts for the construction of campuses are being signed at candidate sites across the United States. The Stargate Project is based on the cooperative relationship that OpenAI and NVIDIA have built since 2016, and the recent partnership between OpenAI and Oracle. It also leverages the existing partnership between OpenAI and Microsoft, aiming to expand the use of Azure while training leading models and providing high-quality products and services.

Investing in the AI and Semiconductor Industries

While Masayoshi Son, President of SoftBank Group, is showing his presence by announcing various AI-related investments such as AI data centers, the outline of AI and semiconductor industry support measures to be included in the comprehensive economic package to be compiled by the government within the month has been revealed in Japan. The government plans to provide more than 10 trillion yen in support by fiscal 2030, of which about 6 trillion yen will be allocated to subsidies for research and development of next-generation semiconductors, and more than 4 trillion yen will be allocated to financial support such as government investment and debt guarantees.

In addition, SoftBank Group and OpenAI established a joint venture company “SB Open AI Japan” on February 3, 2025. The company will develop and sell “Crystal Intelligence,” a generative AI (artificial intelligence) service for businesses, to support business efficiency. SoftBank Group will pay OpenAI approximately 450 billion yen annually for development and operation costs.

Given these circumstances, investments in data centers and the AI/semiconductor industry are expected to progress in Japan as well. Including the trends of SoftBank Group and OpenAI, it will be necessary to examine the results of these investments to see if they will contribute to the future economic growth of Japan and the world.

Sharp’s liquid crystal panel factory in Sakai City, which ceased operations last year (site area = approximately 800,000 square meters), has been attracting attention from the IT industry. Sharp announced that it had reached an agreement with SoftBank and KDDI, which are seeking to use the vast factory site and buildings for an artificial intelligence (AI) data center. A major announcement was made about this matter in December, so I will introduce it here.

Basic Agreement Signed with KDDI for AI Data Center Construction

On December 9th, Sharp and KDDI announced that they had signed a basic agreement to construct an AI data center at the Sakai factory site and start operations at an early date.

KDDI aims to start construction of an AI data center by the end of fiscal 2024 and begin full-scale operations by the end of fiscal 2025 by taking over the land, buildings, and power supply equipment at the Sakai factory site.

Sharp will establish a business structure centered on its brand business through asset light measures such as the sale, and will cooperate with KDDI to promptly construct the data center.

Sharp and KDDI aim to contribute to the revitalization of Japan by building a sustainable society through business together with business partners in various industries and sectors through the construction of AI data centers.

Sale of Part of Factory to SoftBank for 100 billion yen

On December 20th, it was announced that part of the land and facilities at the Sakai factory site would be sold to SoftBank.

The sale price is approximately 100 billion yen. SoftBank plans to construct an AI data center, and the total investment, including the procurement of graphics processing units (GPUs) used for data processing, could reach several hundred billion yen.

The data center is scheduled to start construction in fiscal 2025 and begin operation in 2026. The power capacity, which indicates the scale, is expected to be around 150 megawatts, one of the largest in Japan at the start, and will be increased to 250 megawatts at an early stage. GPUs will be purchased from Nvidia, including the next-generation AI semiconductor “B200”.

SoftBank has set a goal of developing data centers in major cities across the country. Sakai will be positioned as a large-scale base in the Kansai area. In addition to being used for the development and operation of its own large language model (LLM), which serves as the foundation for generative AI, it is also considering leasing to external companies.

Sakai Factory Site Trends to Watch in 2025

Sharp aims to shift to a revenue structure centered on “brand business” such as home appliances instead of the liquid crystal panel business. The funds obtained from the sale are expected to be allocated to strengthening the brand business.

There is also information that Sakai Chemical Industry is considering acquiring a part of the Sakai factory site, so there are likely to be more developments in 2025. We will continue to introduce the situation in the future.

Google has been making significant investments in data centers in Japan, with recent announcements of facilities in Inzai, Chiba, Hiroshima, and Wakayama. While the company is expanding its presence in Japan, it has faced increased scrutiny from regulators in the West, along with Japan’s Fair Trade Commission.

Google Accused of Antitrust Violations

Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) is poised to issue a cease-and-desist order against Google, alleging that the tech giant has violated antitrust laws. The FTC is concerned about Google’s practices related to Android devices, including forcing manufacturers to pre-install Google’s proprietary apps as a condition for licensing the Google Play Store.

The commission has been investigating Google since last October, suspecting that the company has tied the pre-installation of Google Search and Google Chrome to the licensing of the Google Play Store. Additionally, Google is accused of imposing strict requirements on the placement of these app icons on Android devices.

If Android devices were to lose access to the Google Play Store, users would be forced to manually install apps, a process that is inconvenient and time-consuming for most users. As a result, many Android manufacturers have felt compelled to comply with Google’s demands, a practice that the FTC believes may constitute a “tying arrangement” prohibited under antitrust law.

The FTC also suspects that Google has shared ad revenue with device manufacturers on the condition that they do not pre-install competing search apps.

The commission has concluded that Google’s practices, which began at the latest in 2020, likely constitute anticompetitive conduct that has excluded rivals and unfairly restricted the business activities of its trading partners. As a result, the FTC plans to issue a cease-and-desist order.

If the order is issued, it would be the first of its kind against a major U.S. tech company in Japan. However, before making a final decision, the FTC will send a written notice to Google and seek its comments.

Heightened Global Regulatory Scrutiny

Last August, a U.S. court sided with the Department of Justice in its antitrust lawsuit against Google, aiming to dismantle the search giant’s dominant position in the search market. In early September, the Department of Justice also launched an investigation into Nvidia.

Amidst this backdrop of intensifying global regulatory scrutiny of big tech companies, Japan’s Fair Trade Commission is set to issue its first-ever cease-and-desist order against a major U.S. tech firm. This development is being closely watched by industry observers.

GDS International, the international subsidiary of GDS, a leading Chinese data center operator, is accelerating its overseas expansion. This article will introduce GDS’s announcement of its entry into the Japanese market.

GDS, a Leading Chinese Data Center Operator

Founded in 2006, GDS currently operates dozens of data centers in the Greater China region, including Suzhou Kunshan, Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing.

GDS International was established in 2022 and is headquartered in Singapore. It is responsible for the construction and operation of data centers outside mainland China. Currently, it operates in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Partnership with Gaw Capital to Build a Data Center in Tokyo

GDS announced that it will partner with Gaw Capital, a Hong Kong-based real estate private equity firm, to jointly build a 40-megawatt (MW) data center park in Tokyo.

In April 2022, Gaw acquired the Fuchu Building in Fuchu Intelligent Park, Fuchu City, Tokyo. GDS and Gaw plan to establish a carrier-neutral data center park on a plot of land within the Fuchu Intelligent Park to meet the huge demand for safe and scalable cutting-edge digital infrastructure.

The total area of the plot is 10,970 square meters (118,080 square feet), and the first phase is scheduled to start operations by the end of 2026. GDS has already received inquiries from customers who intend to place orders.

Wei Huang, Chairman and CEO of GDS, mentioned the size of the Japanese market, its status as one of the three largest data center markets in the Asia-Pacific region, and the rapid growth in demand for artificial intelligence (AI), stating, “I am confident in the rapid growth of our global business.”

According to the Nikkei Shimbun, data centers in the Tokyo area are rapidly increasing, and their capacity is expected to double in the next 3-5 years, surpassing Singapore and closing in on Beijing, the top data center market in Asia. This trend is likely one of the factors driving GDS’s entry into the Japanese market.

GDS Attracts Attention as the First Chinese Data Center Company to Enter Japan

This article has introduced the announcement that has attracted attention as the first Chinese data center company’s entry into the Japanese market.

We will continue to provide updates as more details about the construction of GDS’s data center become available.

The data center market continues to experience rapid growth due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology and the expanding use of cloud services. This article will highlight a noteworthy announcement from major Japanese construction company Obayashi Corporation regarding its domestic data center business.

Announcement of Entry into Urban Data Center Development Business in Central Tokyo

Obayashi Corporation has officially announced its full-scale entry into the urban data center development business. At the end of November, it established a new subsidiary, MiTASUN Corporation, to undertake the development and operation of urban data centers in central Tokyo.

Leveraging its expertise cultivated through previous construction and development projects, Obayashi will act as the project owner, renovating and rebuilding office buildings in urban areas into small-scale data centers. It plans to establish multiple small-scale data centers within an 8km radius and connect them with dedicated optical fiber lines to create a data center cluster. The aim is to secure a scale equivalent to a large-scale (hyperscale) data center with the combined capacity of this cluster.

Project Aiming for a Sustainable Society

MiTASUN has announced plans to invest approximately 100 billion yen in data center development in central Tokyo within the next 10 years. As its first project in fiscal year 2028, it will construct a new small-scale data center in Mita, Tokyo, with a receiving capacity of approximately 5.5MW, a common metric for data center size. Furthermore, it has already secured land for its second project in Tokyo, approximately 6km away from the first, with the goal of establishing a 40MW-class data center cluster by fiscal year 2031.

The company also plans to actively pursue alliances with other companies and implement the following measures:

• Converting buildings owned by other companies into data centers
• Interconnecting with other data center operators
• Continuously expanding facility scale
   

The Obayashi Group aims to contribute to the advancement of urban infrastructure and realize a sustainable society through this new business venture.

Expectations for Urban Data Center Business Development

Demand for data centers is expected to continue growing, especially in central urban areas. Will Obayashi Corporation’s urban data center business become a new model case for urban development? There are high expectations for its future development, leveraging the technical capabilities cultivated in its construction business and the know-how gained from its development projects.

We’ve previously discussed how the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly increased the global demand for data centers.

In recent years, both semiconductor factories and new data centers have been actively constructed domestically [in Japan]. However, the government aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2, by 2050.

As companies grapple with the challenge of securing the massive amounts of electricity consumed by data centers, they are devising innovative ways to meet demand while reducing carbon dioxide emissions through the use of renewable energy.

In this context, I’d like to introduce an announcement from Google related to this power challenge.

Google Announces Purchase of Power from Small Modular Reactors

Google has announced plans to purchase electricity from small modular reactors (SMRs) developed and installed by Kairos Power, a US next-generation nuclear power company.

The company aims to have the first SMR operational by 2030 and deploy additional reactors by 2035, with a total of seven SMRs providing 500 megawatts of power.

SMRs can be assembled in factories and then transported to the installation site as a complete unit (module), reducing construction time and costs compared to conventional nuclear power plants. Their smaller size also allows for more flexible site selection and easier cooling, making them safer.

Due to these advantages, SMRs are being developed worldwide, including in the United States, as a next-generation decarbonization power source. However, one of the challenges in implementing SMRs is finding buyers for relatively high-cost electricity until SMRs achieve economies of scale.

For Google, this move aligns with its goal of addressing the power needs of its AI data centers while advancing its decarbonization objectives.

The government is also supporting private initiatives. The US government has set a goal of tripling nuclear capacity by 2050 and is working to promote SMRs through initiatives such as supporting demonstration projects and building a fuel supply chain.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced up to $900 million in support for next-generation SMR development, and public-private efforts to promote SMR development and construction are intensifying.

Power Challenges and the Need for Global Action

In the United States, IT giants are investing in nuclear energy one after another. In contrast, the trend toward phasing out nuclear power is accelerating in Europe, particularly in Germany and Italy. Japan is also not as proactive in nuclear power.

As the demand for AI continues to grow, countries around the world will be forced to address power challenges.

NVIDIA Under Antitrust Scrutiny: Implications for the AI Industry

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a formal investigation into NVIDIA, the world’s leading semiconductor company, raising concerns about potential antitrust violations. The DOJ has issued subpoenas, signaling a potential antitrust lawsuit against the company.

NVIDIA holds a dominant market share in AI semiconductors, with approximately 80% of the data center market in 2023, according to Omdia. The DOJ’s investigation focuses on whether NVIDIA has engaged in anticompetitive practices that hinder other companies from entering the market.

Beyond hardware, NVIDIA provides software optimized for AI development. The DOJ is examining whether the company has bundled hardware and software, offering preferential treatment to customers who purchase both.

CUDA: The Industry Standard

NVIDIA’s CUDA, a software development environment tailored for its GPUs, has become the industry standard for large-scale computing tasks, including training generative AI models. This dominance is due to NVIDIA’s extensive promotion and the close integration of CUDA with its hardware.

If found guilty of antitrust violations, NVIDIA could face significant penalties and be required to change its business practices. However, the widespread adoption of CUDA presents a challenge, as it would be difficult to quickly replace with alternative solutions.

Implications for the AI Industry

The DOJ’s investigation into NVIDIA highlights the growing scrutiny of Big Tech companies. Recent antitrust cases against Google and Apple set a precedent for increased regulatory oversight.

The outcome of this investigation could have far-reaching implications for the AI industry. If NVIDIA is found to have engaged in anticompetitive practices, it could lead to increased competition in the AI semiconductor market, potentially benefiting AI developers and end users. However, it could also disrupt the current AI ecosystem and lead to uncertainty in the market.

Conclusion

The DOJ’s investigation into NVIDIA marks a significant development in the AI industry. As the investigation unfolds, it will be essential to monitor the potential impact on AI innovation, competition, and the broader technology landscape.